Hide-stretching apparatus



Nov. 18, 1924. 1,516,413

' A. l. SNOW HIDE STRETCHING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4, 1922 4 Sheets$heet1 Nov. 18, 1924.

A. LISNOW HIDE] STRETCHING APPARATUS Filed Nov 4, 1922. 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig.7

Nov; 18', 1924. Y 1,516,413

A. I. SNOW HIDE STRETCHING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4, 1 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J72%7212'7 idexazzzer I .7

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Patented Nov. 18, 1.924.

ALEXANDER I. SNOW, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HIDE-STRETCHING APPARATUS.

Application filed. November 4, 1922.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER 1. Snow, a citizen. of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of \Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Hide-Stretching Apparatus,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for stretching hides for general use,but is particularly adapted for putting them into the best condition forthe production of leather belting. I

The principal object of the invention is to provide for stretching wholehides in such a manner that, as near as possible, all the looseness orstretch will be taken up at all points within the stretched portion. Theinvention also has for an object to provide an improved method of andapparatus for stretching hides by which it will be practicallyimpossible to apply too much tension at one point and too little atanother; in other words, in which the tension employed in stretchingwill be performed entirely by mechanical means and the human elementwill be substantially eliminated, in which the action of getting thehide into its stretched condition will be comparatively simple andcapable of being performed by relatively unskilled help, and which willbe of such a nature that an unskilled operator will not be able tounduly stretch certain portions of the hide and leave other portions ina partially unstretched condition.

The invention also involves improvements in many features ofconstruction comprising a hydraulic or other elastic system by which theuniformity above mentioned is secured, an improved stretching frame towhich the hide can be applied in a convenient and simple manner and leftin a stretched condition to go through the subsequent drying processwithout danger of releasing the tension at any point of interfering withits uniformity in the resultant hide, and (a plant which will involveimportant economies in floor space and time. The invention also involvesimprovements in mechanism by which the stretching frame is connectedwith and disconnected from the stationary part of the plant,improvements in the means for gripping and holding the hide,- and otherfeatures of construction as will appear.

Serial No. 599,044.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa front elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with thisinvention showing the hide in position and in the act of beingstretched;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1 showing the lowerpart in plan;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the stationary part of the apparatus withthe stretching frame removed;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the same on the line 55 of Fig.4:;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a central transverse sectional View on the line 7 7 of Fig.4:;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the stretching frame removed from themain part of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are sectional views respectively on the lines 1111,1212 and 1313 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1% is a sectional view of the side gripping mechanism on the line14 14 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the same.

Ordinarily it has been the practice to cut a hide off square at theshoulder, cut off the belly sides parallel to the back bone, and leavethe butts at the rump end in an irregular shape, thus avoidingunnecessary waste. This makes it convenient to clamp the fore end of thehide in a single clamp as is well understood in this art, but has madeit necessary to provide for clamping the rump end in somjeother way.Several ways have been proposed, including the use of a plurality ofsmall clamps following the contour of the rear end of the hide. Thatinvolved the necessity of a skilled operator to place these clamps inproper relationship to each other and to adjust them. Of course, as thehuman element entered into this method, it was never possible to secureeven tension all the way across. The perfection of the result lay in theskill of the operator. The back center resisted stretching force so thatthe softer parts were insufficiently stretched. Therefore it has beenthe custom to divide the hide into three parts and stretch each oneseparately.

The present invention is based on the idea of automatically andmechanically equalizing the strain all over the whole hide withoutattempting to depend upon the skill of theoperator to any-great extent.It is not claimed that this skill is entirely eliminated, but that it isso subordinated to the mechanical apparatus as not be responsible forthe result. An experienced operator can, by the nature of a hide,predetermine the approximate length of stretch necessary, but any errorthat the operator is likely to make is compensated for by the apparatusitself on account of its elastic nature.

The apparatus as set forth herein involves two elements. There is astationary stretching machine located in a convenient position and amovable frame for holding the hide while it is being stretched. On thisframe the hide is removed from the machine and is left on it until ithas dried and is otherwise treated in the usual way. It is to beunderstood that there is one stationary machine to take care of a largenumber of removable stretcher frames which are run around the plant ontrolleys or other convenient supports to and from the same.

This stationary machine, as shown, involves a base located on a solidflooring or the like. It is provided with a pair of uprights 11, shownhere in the form of chan nel irons riveted together and secured to thebase so as to form a rigid frame structure.

At each end of the base I have shown two of these channel irons arrangedback to back and secured to the base by angle irons 12. Between thesetwo channel irons is located a steel sheet 13 at the bottom which is ofa triangular shape and is secured to the base by additional angle irons12 to constitute a strut for holding the upright frame in position.Several of these can be used and I have also shown a forward strut, 14of special design. The two uprights at the top are connected by atransverse channel iron 15. This constitutes the supporting frame forthe stationary machine in the form in whlch I have shown it. It isbraced at the corners in any desired way as by braces 17 and is providedwith a pair of opposite ways 18 on the inner surfaces of its uprights.It has a. guide or rear rest 19.

Rigidly mounted at the center of the base is a vertical cylinder 16.This is shown as extending down below the floor and is prop erlyanchored in position. On the front of the base 10 there is shown anextension which supports a plurality of rigid vertical cylinders 20. Ineach of the cylinders 20 there is a piston 21 having a piston rod 22extending up from it. In the cylinder 16 there is a plunger 23 whichprojects up to the top of the apparatus. The combined effective areas ofthe pistons 21 is substantially equal to the effective area of theplunger On account of the additional friction a little surplus should beallowed for the former.

I have shown these pistons as being supplied with water or other fluidunder pressure through a supply pipe 25 controlled by a main supply andregulating valve 26. This delivers the pressure fluid into a pipe 27which is connected by two supply valves 28 and 29 with two pipes 30 and31. The pipe 30, in addition to being connected with a pressure gauge32. is shown as connected through a pipe 33 with the cylinder 16. Thepipe 31 is connected with a series of Ts at, each of which is connectedby a pipe 35 with one of the several cylinders 20 above their respectivepistons. There are no valves in these Ts or in the pipe 31, but when thevalve 29 is open pressure is communicated equally to all the cylinders20. It will be seen therefore that the pressure in these cylinders isalways equal. Furthermore, the pipe 33 and therefore the plunger in thecylinder 16 is under the same pressure per square inch. These pistonsare all single acting and the pressure exerted in the cylinder 16 actsto force its plunger up, while the pressure exerted in the cylinders 20acts to force their pistons down. Double acting pistons can be used.

It may be stated at this point that the cylinder 16 exhausts through apipe 37 to a main exhaust pipe 38. the same being controlled by anexhaust valve 39. The several. cylinders 20 exhaust in like mannerthrough a pipe 410 controlled by an exhaust valve 41 and into the mainexhaust 38.

Adjustable up and down the ways 18 on the uprights is a head. This isformed of a pair of end pieces 12 and a plurality of spaced plates 43extending between them. This head is provided with a pair of arms 44pivoted on vertical pivots 45 and normally forced apart by yieldingmeans, as for example a spring 46. These springs move the arms abouttheir pivots into cont-act with stops 4'? so as to project out at rightangles from the head. They are then located in such position that agroove 48 in each is adapted to receive and support the movable frame aswill appear. This head is supported on top of the plunger 23 and isadapted to be forced upwardly thereby in the operation of the device.

The stationary machine is also provided with a series of chains or otherflexible connections 50, one for each piston rod 22 adapted to extendupwardly therefrom. Each of these chains engages a. hook 51. This hookconstitutes the bottom of a slide 49 extending upwardly and providedwith a relatively fixed. jaw 52 having corrugations on its front face.

Pivotally mounted on this slide below its top is a swinging jaw 53having complei'ncntary corrugations whereby the two jaws are adapted togrip the edge of a hide between them. Located under the lower end of thejaw 53, but on the opposite side of its pivot is a cam 5 1. This isprovided with a square head 55 or the like by which a wrench can beapplied to turn it. This cam has a cam surface for engaging the extremeend of the jaw 53 when turned to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 12,forcing the lower end of the jaw forward and the operative end in wardto grip the leather. The parts just described, located above the chain50, are adapted to be removed from the stationary machine, as theyconstitute part of the stretching frame 60. This is brought about bymeans of a series of bolts 56 each having a head 5'? for operating it.Each passes through one of the slides L9 and is adapted to secure itfirmly to the removable frame 60. Then, as will appear hereinafter, thechain can be cast off and the jaws will continue to hold the leather. Itwill be seen that there is one of these jaws for each one of the pistons22.

The hide stretching frame 60 is shown as made up largely of piping andin rectangular form. At the top it is provided with a pair of trolleywheels 61 which run on an overhead track 62 going around the plant toany desired points. The frame 60 is supported from the wheels by the aidof straps 53 connected with the shafts of the trolley wheels anddepending therefrom. On this frame 60 near the top there are twovertical racks 6 1- having teeth sloping upwardly. These racks are fixedto the pipe frame.

Adapted to move up and down in the side pieces of the frame are a pairof hollow heads 65, each one provided with a pawl 66 having teeth forengaging the teeth of its rack 64: and provided with a handle 67. Itwill be obvious that the raising of these heads, no matter by whatmeans, will normally result in holding the heads in their ele vatedpositions. The handles 67 constitute counter-weights, in the form shown,for holding the pawls in engagement with the teeth and preventingdownward motion but permitting upward motion. Also when carried over thecenter of gravity they will hold the teeth out of engagement and permitdownward motion. Above the heads are slides 69 of similar constructionmovable on the side pieces. These heads and slides 69 are provided witha pair of brackets 80. one above and one below, having inserted nuts 81in their opposite ends; Into these openings extend the ends of a rightand left screw 82 which is provided with a permanently located ratchetwrench 83 having a handle 68 for turning it and adjusting the relativedistance between the respective heads 65, and slides 69. This mechanismis duplicated on the other side.

The two lower brackets 80 carry a jaw plate 72, and the upper bracketson the slides 69 carry a jaw plate 73 above it. Jaws 70 and 71 aremounted on these vertical plates. The lower one rests in the notches L8referred to above and constitutes a support for the whole frame 60.

By operating the screws 82 the jaws i and 71 can be caused to approacheach other or recede from each other. They are designed to clamp thestraight free end of the skin as indicated in Figs. 1 and 6.

0n the front of the frame 60 at the bottom are located a series ofguides 'i 5 located vertically and in number equal to the number ofcylinders 20. Each of these guides has a longitudinal slot 76 for thereception of the bolt 56 so that, in the operation described above, theslides 49 can be secured in the position along this guide in which itmay be left when the operator has located it.

The frame 60 is strengthened in the form shown by a cross plate 78riveted or otherwise conveniently secured to it. The upper ends of theseguides are fixed to it while the lower ends are fixed to the bottom pipeor other cross piece which constitutes the bottom of the frame.

I have shown a separate side stretching frame 85 holding opposite edgesof the hide and keeping them straight. These aws grip the hide and thushold this frame thereon.

It will be understood of course that the particular constructions shownand described, particularly the structural. iron shapes indicated, areselected for the purpose of convenience strength and inexpensiveness andthat other mechanical devices can be substituted withir wide limits inaccordance with the appended claims. It will be also understood that bysome change in design and an apparatus for hoisting the frames tooverhead track, the outfit will perform equally well in a reclining orhorizontal. position.

Operation.

In the use of the device one of the frames (30 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and.3, with a skin stretched upon it and dried preferably for a period oftwenty-four hours more or less, is brought around on the track intoregistration with the stationary machine. It rests back against the rest1 The operator sees that the plate 72 is supported in the notches 48 andthat each of the aws 53 registers with the rod of the proper piston 22below it. Then he goes over the bottom of the frame with a wrench,loosening the jaws 53 by turning the cams 54:. Now he turns the valve39, to let *ater out of the cylinder 16, having first moved both of thepawls 66 out of engagement with their racks. The latter o 'ieration doesnot have any result until the plunger begins 'todescend. Now when thejaws TO-71 are lowered to about the level of the top of a stack of wethides upon a truck, immediately behind the operator, the valve 39 isclosed again and the heads on the frame 60 thus left in stationaryposition. The operator then manipulates the handles 68 to separate thejaws 71 and removes the top of the stretched hide from the apparatus.

Now a new hide is dragged flatwise part way off the stack on the truckand its front straight edge carried directly in horizontally between thejaws 707l and clamped in position by the reverse manipulation of thewrench handles 68 and screws 82. This constitutes a very simple way ofmanipulating and gripping thefore end of the new hide.

Now the operator opens the valve 28, it being assumed that the valve 26has been open all the time and the valves 28 and 29 closed. Theadmission of water through the pipes 30 and 33 into the cylinder 16raises the heads 65 and the jaws 'l07l dragging the hide off the truckand suspending it vertically. The pawls 66 now operate automatically tohold these parts in any position to which they are thus elevated. Beforethe hide gets to the top of the frame the valve 28 is closed again andthe operator goes across the bottom of the hide applying the chains 50to the hooks 51, which, it will be remembered are fixed in position onthe frame 60 by the bolts 56.

Having connected the chains with the hooks as stated, he loosens thebolts 56 one at a time, individually manipulates the slides 49 up anddown until they come into position for their respective jaws 52 toengage the rear of the hide near its edge. In that position the cams 54are turned and the jaws 53 forced inwardly to grip the hide. Thisoperation is carried on all the way across the hide until all these jaws52 and 53 are gripping the irregular rump end thereof.

The operator now cautiously opens the valve 29 and lets water into theupper ends of the cylinders 20 to force down the several pistons 21. Theoperator at this point uses the ordinary gauges employed in this art todetermine whether the hide is being stretched adequately throughout itsarea. During this operation he also applies the side stretching clamps85. The stretching operation is accomplished by opening both of thevalves 28 and 29 to their full extent, and controlling the pressure bymeans of the main valve 26. The pressure is the same per square inch inall the cylinders and the area on. which it acts is substantially thesame at both ends. Therefore, a uniform stretching action is secured andthe hide is left in a floating condition because the pressures arebalanced.

It will be remembered that the bolts 56 are loosened and slid along theslots 76 in accordance with the stretching operation. As soon as thishas proceeded as far as is thought necessary the two valves 28 and 29are closed simultaneously or the valve 26 is closed. Then the operatorgoes across the bottom of the machine tightening up the bolts 56. Theeffect of this is to hold firmly all the slides 49 in the position whichthey naturally assume on account of the relative elasticity of theportion of the hide on which their respective jaws are operated.Therefore the tightening of these bolts at this time leaves the hide ina natural con dition in which the stretch has been uniform all over.

It will be seen that on account of the equality in the combined pistonareas above indicated, any desired degree of tension can be exerted overthe whole area of the hide. This is controlled by the valve 26 and shownby the indicator 32.

The operator can now go across the ma chine, cast off all the chains 50after first closing the valves 28 and 29 and opening the exhaust valves39 and 41. This will leave the hide in its natural stretched conditionon the removable frame 60 and there is no way in which the pressure canbe released at any point along the hide. The stretching operation so faras this machine is concerned is now complete. The operator pushes theframe 60 out of the machine along the trolley track 62 and it is takenon that track to the drying room or any other station in which it is tobe treated in the ordinary way. Another frame is ready to be moved intothe machine from the opposite side with a completely stretched hide uponit and the operation above described is repeated.

It will be understood that the hide on the frame which has just beentaken from the machine is ordinarily dried in a drying chamber for abouttwenty-four hours and then brought around to this machine to bedetached.

I call attention to the fact that by the process above described I haveequalized the tension all over the hide, prevented the occurrence ofunstretched points which usually appear over the hip bones of theanimal, and produced a skin that is in a uniformly and fully stretchedcondition all over. Thus belting or other leather commodities made fromit will be of uniform character and can be depended upon for accurateand uniform service. This invention provides for taking all the stretchout of the hide all the way across. The leather in a new belt will be insame condition as that in a belt which has been run over pulleys a longtime.

In this way I have accomplished a result not heretofore attained becausein all other hide stretching processes of which I am aware the operatorhas no means of securing absolute uniformity in the product because hecannot secure uniform tension all over the skin. He is restricted to thene cessity of adjusting his tension by hand to secure the best resultshe can attain. The result isthat with the old processes the uniformityof the skin depends fully upon the skill of the operator, and perfectionis not to be expected. In other words, the old processes are handprocesses, every part of the skin having tension placed upon itcontrolled by the judgment of the operator and he is not able tounderstand or to measure the exact results of the pressure which isapplied. But in my process the judgment of the operator, except for thepreliminary adjustments as above described, is eliminated and mechanicalflexible means is employed for making uniform the tension on the skinthroughout its surface so that all the stretch is taken out. Therefore,a mechanically accurate result is obtained not dependent upon theindividual adjustments made by the operator.

By providing yielding but equal tension at all points along theirregular edge of the hide, danger of stretching some parts of the hidetoo much and not stretching other parts enough is avoided, and yet thoseparts which yield more readily and consequently must be stretched morein order to bring them to uniform condition will be stretchedautomatically in proportion to their stretchability. I can get much morestretch or gain in area because of equally uniformly applied tension,since the weak parts cannot be strained beyond their breaking point, ashappens in any other machine. Thus the action on the leather isdependent on the condition of the leather itself at every point acrossit. In practice it has been known of course that it was necessary tostretch the leather along the soft sides more than along the back whereit is thick and strong, and attempts have been made to do that by theold hand operations. By this invention, however, that is accomplishedautomatically without any guess work on the part of the operator.

It will be understood, of course, that al.- though I have shown a Wholehide and preferred to use the machine for stretching of a whole hide,the same principle can be carried out for the stretching of leather innarrower strips. No claim is made herein to the product of this machine,namely the hide, as that is reserved for a divisional application.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of themachine and shown details of construction which are practical andefficient, I am aware of the fact that modifications in all thesedetails can be made without departing from the scope of the invention asexpressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to thedetails of construction herein shown and described, but what I do claimis 1. In a hide stretching device, the combination with a pair of jawsfor engaging and holding one end of a hide, and a plurality ofindependently mounted jaws for engaging and holding the other end of thehide, of elastic means for forcing the two sets of jaws apart, adaptedto yield at all points to compensate for differences in the quality ofthehide.

2. In a hide stretching device, the combination with a pair of jaws forgripping one end of a hide all the way across it, and a series of pairsof jaws independently adjustable toward and from the first named jawsfor gripping an irregular edge at the other end of the hide, ofhydraulic means for forcing the two sets of jaws apart.

3. In a hide stretching device, the combination with a pair of aws forgripping one end of a hide, and a series of pairs of jaws independentlyadjustable toward and from the first named jaws for gripping theirregular edge at the other end of the hide, of hydraulic means forforcing the two sets of jaws apart, said hydraulic means comprising openconnections by which the water can flow in either direction to keepequal the intensity of the pressure at both ends of the hide.

at. In a hide stretching device, the combination with a pair of jaws forgripping one end of a hide, and a series of pairs of jaws independentlymovable toward and from the first named jaws for gripping an irregularedge at the other end of the hide, of means for forcing the two sets ofjaws apart, comprising a cylinder and corresponding piston for eachrespective pair of jaws, the movable elements of said pistons andcylinders being connected with their respective jaws, and pipingconnecting all of said cylinders freely with each other, whereby fiuidcan flow in both directions between the cylinders.

5. In a hide stretching device, the combination with a pair of jaws forgripping one end of a hide, and a series of pairs of jaws for grippingthe other end of the hide, of means for forcing the two sets of jawsapart, comprising two sets of cylinders and pistons individuallyconnected with the respective pairs of aws of the series, the com binedareas of the several pistons connected with the series of jaws forengaging one end of the hide being substantially equal to the efi'ectivearea of the corresponding piston connected with the jaws at the otherend of the hide, whereby the total pressure is equal on the two ends andthe tension on the hide will be uniform throughout its width.

6. In a hide stretching device, the combination of a pair of straightjaws for gripping the straight free end of a hide, a series of pairs ofjaws adapted to be adjusted toward and from the straight jaws forgripping the other irregular rear end of the same hide, a plunger andcylinder for forcing the first named jaws in one direction, and a seriesof pistons and cylinders, one individually connected with each of theother pairs of jaws for forcing them in the opposite direction, meanswhereby fluid under pressure can be admitted to all of said cylindersunder the same pressure, the combined effective areas of the pluralityof pistons being substantially the same as the effective area of thesingle plunger, whereby the pressure at all points across the hide willremain equal.

7. In a hide stretching device, the combination of a pair of jaws forgripping the end of a hide, a series of pairs of jaws for gripping theother end of the same hide, a plunger and cylinder for forcing the firstnamed jaws in one direction, and a series of pistons and cylinders, oneindividually connected with each of the other pairs of jaws for forcingthem in the opposite direction, means whereby fluid under pressure canbe admitted to all of said cylinders under the same pressure, wherebythe pressure at all points across the hide will remain equal, and eachpart of the hide will be stretched in accordance with its condition.

8. In a hide stretching machine, the combination with a pair of jaws forgripping one end of the hide and a series of pairs of jaws for grippingthe other end of the hide at short intervals across it, means forforcing the first pair of jaws away from the others, and a series ofcylinders and pistons individually connected with the other jaws and allunder the same pressure for forcing the series of jaws in the oppositedirection.

9. In a machine for stretching hides, the combination with a base, of apressure we erting element, means adapted to be moved upwardly therebyfor supporting a hide, a series of cylinders located adjacent thereto,each having a piston movable downwardly therein under pressure, andmeans connected with each of said cylinders for exerting downwardpressure on a hide carried by said supporting means.

10. In a machine for stretching hides, the combination with a stationarybase, of a vertical cylinder located thereon, a plunger extending downinto said cylinder from above, means supported by the top of saidplunger and adapted to be moved upwardly thereby for supporting a hide,a series of cylinders located in front of the single plunger, eachhaving a piston movable downwardly therein under pressure, and meansconnected with each of said pistons for exerting downward pressure on ahide carried by said supporting means.

11. In a hide stretching machine, the combination of a stationary frame,a head movable up and down thereon, arms carried by said head andprojecting outwardly, a hide carrying frame depending therefrom, acylinder, a plunger movable in said cylinder and engaging said head tolift it, and means located adjacent to said cylinder for pullingdownwardly on the lower edge of a hide carried by said frame,

12. In a hide stretching machine, the com bination of a base, a frameextending upwardly therefrom and having ways thereon, a head movable upand down on the ways and having supports thereon, means on the head forholding the end of a hide, a cylinder on said base, a plunger in thecylinder arranged to force said head upwardly, and a series of deviceslocated on said base near the bottom of said frame, each capable ofexerting pressure downwardly on the other end of the hide.

18. In a hide stretching machine, the combination of a base, a frameextending upwardly therefrom and having ways thereon, a head movable upand down on the ways and having means thereon for carrying a hidedepending vertically therefrom, means on said base for forcing said headupwardly, and a series of devices located on said base near the bottomof said frame, each capable of exerting a pressure downwardly on a partof the bottom of said hide, and means whereby the pressure exerted byall of said devices will be the same.

14. In a hide stretching machine, the. combination of a frame havingways thereon, a head movable along the ways and having supports thereonfor a hide, a cylinder opposite said head, a plunger in the cylinderarranged to force said head in one direction, a. series of deviceslocated near the other end of said frame, each capable of exert ing apressure in the opposite direction, and means whereby the pressureexerted by all of said devices will be the same and whereby the totalpressure exerted by said plunger and cylinder will be substantiallyequal to the total exerted by all of said devices.

15. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination of a stationaryframe, a sup porting head movable along the frame for carrying a hidestretching frame, a plunger and cylinder for positively moving said headand hide carrying frame, a plurality of pistons and cylinders eachprovided with a separate pair of gripping jaws for engaging the otherend of the hide and exerting a pull upon the same in the oppositedirection, and means whereby fluid pressure from the same source and ofthe same intensity will be introduced in all of the cylinders, thecombined piston areas of said series of cyl inders and pistons beingsubstantially equal to the effective area of the plunger.

16. In a hide stretching machine, the com bination of a base, a frameextending upwardly therefrom and having ways thereon, a head movable upand down on the ways and having arms pivoted freely on vertical axes,yielding means for holding said arms in a position substantiallyperpendicular to the frame, a cylinder on said base, a plunger in thecylinder arranged to force said head upwardly, a series of deviceslocated on said base near the bottom of said frame, each capable ofexerting pressure downwardly, and means parallel with said frame forsupporting a hide stretching frame and directing it into a position toengage said arms and rest upon them.

17. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination of an overheadtrack, a hide carrying frame depending therefrom and movable along saidtrack, a stationary machine frame located in position parallel with aportion of said track having a head thereon, arms movably mounted onsaid head, an d yielding means for forcing said arms outwardly undersaid track, whereby when the hide frame is moved along the track it willengage said arms swinging them out of the way as its edge passes themand they will automatically swing back into position to support theframe at its center.

18. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination of an overheadtraelr, a hide carrying frame depending therefrom and movable along saidtrack, a machine frame located in position parallel with a portion ofsaid track, a head movable up and down thereon, arms movably mounted onsaid head, yielding means for forcing said arms outwardly under saidtrack, whereby when the hide frame is moved along the track it willengage said arms to swing them out of the way as its edge passes themand they will automatically swing bacl; into position to support theframe, said arms having grooves in position for i wing a definiteportion of said hide carrying rr porting it in a depending position, anda rest on said stationary frame for engaging the lower end of the hidecarrying frame and keeping it in vertical position.

19. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination of an overheadtrack, a hide carrying frame depending therefrom and movable along saidtrack, a stationary machine frame located in position parallel with aportion of said track, a head movable up and down thereon, arms movablymounted ne and supon said head, yielding nieans for forcin said armsoutwardly under said track, t5 when the hide frame is moved along thetrack it will automatically be supported said arms, means connected withsaid stationary f ame for forcing said head, and consequently the hidecarrying frame, upward ly, and means located at the lower part of theapparatus for individually gripping different portions of the bottom ofa hide de pending from the top of the hide carrying frame and exertingdownward pressure on the same.

20. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination of an overheadtrack, a hide car-- rying frame depending therefrom and movable alongsaid traclr, a machine frame located in position parallel with a portionof said track, a head movable up and down thereon, arms movably mountedon said head, yielding means for forcing said arms outwardly under saidtrack to support the hide frame when it is moved along the track intoregistration with said inacli inc, rest on said stationary frame forengaging the lower end of the hide carrying frame and keeping it invertical position, means connected with said stationary frame forforcing said head, and consequently the hide carrying frame,

upwardly, and means located at the lower part of the apparatus forindividually gripping different portions of the bottom of a hidedepending from the top of the hide carrying frame and exerting downwardpres sure on the same equal at all points all the way across the hide.

21. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination with an overheadtrack, of hide carrying frame depending therefroii'i and adapted to movealong the track, comprising vertical side members spaced apart and apair of jaws extending across its up per end from one of said members tothe other for gripping the square end of the hide, whereby the hide willdepend from this pair of jaws on the front of the hide carrying frame,and a stationary frame adjacent to the track having vertically movablearms having provisions for receiving and support ing the lower of saidjaws directly and there fore supporting the hide carrying frame.

22. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination with an overheadtrack, of a hide carrying frame depending therefrom and adapted to movealong the track, eomprising vertical side members spaced apart and apair of jaws extending across its upper end from one of said members tothe other for gripping the square end of the hide, whereby the hide willdepend from this pair of jaws on the front of the hide carrying frame, astationary frame adjacent to the track having vertically movable armshaving provisions for receiving and supporting the lower of said jawsdirectly and therefore ill supporting the hide carrying frame, meansnear the bottom of the stationary frame for engaging the rear of thehine carrying frame and guiding it, ptm'er-operated means for raisingthe said vertically movable means and said jaws, and power-operatedmeans for engaging the hide at different points along its bottom andexerting a downward pull t iereon.

L3. in a hide stretching apparatus, the combination with an overheadtrack, of a hide carrying frame depending therefrom and adapted to bemoved along the track, a 1' of jaws extending across the upper end ifsaid frame for gripping the square end of the hide, whereby the hidewill depend from this pair of jaws on the front of the hide g 'rame, astationary frame adjacent to the track having vertically movable meansfor supporting the lower of said aws direeb ly and therefore supportingthe hide carryii'ig frame, power-operated n'ieans for raising the saidvertically movable means and aid jaws, and iio'wer-operated means foreugag ing the hide at di lierent points along its bottom and exerting adownward pull thereon of equal intensity at all points along the bottomof the hide.

24. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination with an overheadtrack, of a hide carrying frame depending therefrom and adapted to movealong the track, a pair of jaws extending across its upper end forgripping the square end of the hide, whereby the hide will depend fromthis pair of jaws on the front of the hide carrying frame, means forsupporting the lower of said jaws and the hide carrying frame,power-operated means for raising the said supporting means and saidjaws, and poweroperated means for engaging the hide at different pointsalong its bottom and exerting a downward pull thereon of equal intensityat all points along the bottom of the hide and of a total amountsubstantially equal to the pressure exerted to raise the upper jaws,whereby the hide will be held in a floating condition with substantiallyequal pressure applied to both ends and will be stretched uniformly inthat condition.

25. In a hide stretching device, the combination of a hide carryingframe comprising a pair of side pieces, supporting wheels at the top ofsaid side pieces, a track on which said wheels run, a pair of jawsadjustable on the side pieces, and located near the top of said framefor gripping the square end of a hide between them, means for adjustingsaid jaws to grip the hide, a support for the lower of said jaws, meansfor exerting an upward pressure on said support, means whereby the saidjaws are capable of moving upwardly along said frame, means for holdingthem in their upper position and preventing them from slippingbackwardly down the frame. and means at the bottom of said frame forexerting a downward pressure comprising a plurality of pressure exertingelements.

26. In a hide stretching device, the combination of a hide carryingframe, supporting wheels at the top, a track on which said wheels run, apair of jaws adjustably located near the top of said frame for grippingthe square end of a hide between them, means for adjusting said jaws togrip the hide, a support for the lower of said-jaws, means for exertingan upward pressure on said support, means whereby the said jaws arecapable of moving upwardly along said frame, means for holding them intheir up per position and preventing them from slipping bacl'qwardlydown the frame, means at the bottom of said frame for exerting adownward pressure comprising a plurality of pressure exerting elements,a pair of jaws connected with each of said pressure exerting elementsand adapted to engage the bottom of a hide depending from the firstnamed jaws at varying heights, whereby the first pair of aws can beattached to the top of a hide while located at the bottom of the frame,then raised with the frame the de sired amount and the last named jawsconnected with the hide and then all the jaws put under pressure tostretch the hide in that position.

27. In a hide carrying frame, the combi nation of apair of side pieceslocated vertically, a rack along the upper end of each side piece, a jawsupport mounted on each side piece and movable up and down the rack,means for holding said aw supports in their uppermost position on therack, a single jaw carried by said two jaw supports, a second jawadjustably connected with the first jaw, said pair of jaws extendingacross the frame, and a plurality of jaws mounted adjacent to the bottomof the frame for gripping the opposite end of the hide and capable ofindependent longitudinal movement.

28. In a hide carrying frame, the combination of a pair of side piecesconnected together at the bottom and located vertically, a rack alongeach side piece, a jaw support mounted on each side piece and movable upand down the rack, means for holding said aw supports in their uppermostposition along the rack, a jaw carried by said jaw supports andextending across from one to the other, a second jaw adjustablyconnected with the first jaw, a plurality of jaws mounted adjacent tothe bottom of the frame for gripping the opposite end of the hide, thelast named jaws being adjustable along the bottom of said frame in avertical direction, individual means for clamping the last named jaw tothe hide, and individual means for clamping said jaws to the frame.

29. In a hide stretching device, the combination of a frame, a pair ofjaws at the one end of said frame adapted to grip the square end of ahide, said jaws being movable as a whole along the frame and beingadjustable toward and from each other, a series of guides at the otherend of the frame, a corresponding number of jaw supporting slidesconnected with said guides, a pair of jaws on each of said slides,individual means for operating said jaws to grip the other end of thehide carried by the first named jaws and extending therefrom, means forexerting a pressure to move the first pair of jaws and the jaws of thelast named series in op posite directions, and means whereby after ahide is stretched in that way the series of jaws can be individuallyclamped to the frame in the positions they then assume to permit of thehide being dried on the frame in the condition in which it is stretched.

80. In a hide stretching device, the combination of a frame, a pair ofjaws at the top of said frame adapted to grip the square end of a hide,said jaws being movable as a whole up and down the frame, a series ofvertical guides at the bottom of the frame, a corresponding number of awsupports con nected with said guides, a pair of jaws on each of saidsupports, individual means for operating said jaws to grip the bottom ofthe hide carried by the first named jaws and depending therefrom, meansfor exerting pressure to raise the first pair of jaws and to lower thejaws of the last named series, means whereby after a hide is stretchedin that way the series of jaws can be individually clamped to the framein the positions they then assume to permit of the hide being dried onthe frame in the condition in which it is stretched, and means wherebythe pressure exerting means at the bottom can be disconnected from theseveral jaws to permit of the removal of the frame.

31. In an apparatus for stretching hides, the combination of a hidesupporting frame located in vertical position, means at the top of saidframe for gripping the square end of a hide to permit the hide to dependtherefrom along the frame, a series of jaws for gripping the bottom ofthe frame at variable elevations, a jaw support for each of said jawsseparately mounted, guides on the frame for said guide supports, meansdetachably connected with said jaw sup ports and independent of saidframe for exerting a downward pull on each of said jaws, and meanswhereby each of said jaw supports can be clamped to the frame after thehide is stretched, whereby the pressure exerting means can be cast offand the hide left on the frame in a stretched condition.

32. In a hide stretching apparatus, the combination of a frame forsupporting a hide having means at one end for clamping the square end ofthe hide, and a plurality of jaws at the other end for clamping theirregular end of the hide at varying distances therefrom, the last namedjaws each comprising a jaw support having a gripping surface and apivoted jaw cooperating therewith, means for engaging each pivoted jawto force it into clamping position, means for individually moving thelast named jaws to stretch the hide, and'means for clamping the jawsupports to the frame, said moving means being detachably connected withthe jaw supports.

In a hide stretching device, the combination of a frame, a pair of jawsat the top of said frame adapted to grip the square end of a hide, saidjaws being movable as a whole up and down the frame, a series ofvertical guides at the bottom of the frame, a corresponding number ofjaw supports connected with said guides, a pair of jaws on each of saidsupports, individual means for operating said jaws to grip the bottom ofthe hide carried by the first named jaws and depending therefrom, meansfor exerting pressure to raise the first pair of jaws and to lower theawe of the last named series at the bottom, means whereby after a hideis stretched the series of jaws can be individually clamped to the framein the position they then assume, a track above the frame on which itcan move edgewise, the pressure exerting means for forcing the firstpair of jaws upwardly comprising horizontal supports from which saidframe is adapted to slide automatically when moved along the track inone direction, and the jaws at the bottom being readily detachable fromthe pressure exerting means at the bottom to permit the frame to bemoved out of position with the stretched hide thereon.

34:. The method of stretching a hidewhich consists in gripping the endof the hide at a plurality of points and applying the same tension ateach point.

35. The method of stretching a hide which consists in gripping one endof the hide along a straight line across it, gripping the opposite endof the hide at a plurality of points arranged irregularly across theother end of the hide and applying fluid pressure of the same intensityto all the points at which the hide is gripped to pull the two ends inopposite directions.

86. The method of stretching a hide which consists in gripping one endof it along a straight line across it, gripping the opposite end of thehide at a plurality of points arranged irregularly across that end andapplying fluid pressure to all the points at which the hide is grippedto pull the two ends in opposite directions, the whole amount ofpressure exerted on the two ends of the hide being equal and the amountsalso being equal, whereby the tension exerted on the hide is the sameand the amount of stretch will vary exactly in accordance With thestretchability of the hide at each point, thus resulting in an increasein the stretch and a gain in the area of the hide.

37. The method of stretching a hide Which consists in applying fluidpressure to ferent points, the Whole amount of pressure is exerted onthe two ends being equal, for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiiXed my signature.

ALEXANDER I. SNOW.

